Railway switch-stand



(No Model.)

J. H. GREENWOOD & W. H. GOWELL.

RAILWAY SWITCH STAND.

No. 253,861. Patented Feb. 21,1882.

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the way of passing trains or persons.

rrnn STATES PATENT Eric.

RAILWAY SWITCH-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 253,861, dated February 21, 1882.

' Application filed January 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom ttmag] concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN 11. GREENWOOD and WILLIAM H. OowELL, of Logan, in the county of Hocking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Switch-Stands; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved switchstand. Fig. 2 is a detail of the quadrant-hinge.

Similar letters in the figures indicate like parts.

Our invention consists in the peculiar construction of a railway switch-stand capable of use either at or on a one, two, or three throw switch by changing the position of a hinged are or quadrant to which the switching-lever is fulcrnmed, which are maybe'raised to a vertical plane when in use, or lie horizontal upon the ground, out of the way of passing trains or persons, the switch-shifting mechanism being specially adapted and intended for confined and narrow spaces when the ordinary switchstand could not be used, but capable of use in any situation where a switch may be needed, all as hereinafter more specifically set forth.

' In the drawings, K represents the tie upon which the device stands. The plate H, which supports the operative parts, is fastened to the tie by bolts or spikes. To this plate are attached the hinge-eyes O 0, through which are passed pieces of pipe 0 O, projecting inward far enough to form pintles for the eyes of the quadrant G to turn upon. The quadrant turns upon these pintles through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, in order that after being used in a vertical position as the fulcrum of the lever F to throw the switch in either direction, it may be dropped upon the ground on either side of tie K, and be out of When thus disposed of, it lies nearly parallel with the track and below the level of the rails.

The shiftingfbarB, passing through the hollow pintles O O, is a straight sliding bar connected with the rail either directly or by the joint A, as preferred, or may be pivoted to the end of the tiea'od M. This bar B has in the middle, between the hinges (J G, a swiveljoint, 0, upon which the lever F and the strap E, to which it is pivoted at 19, turn when the quadrant is moved from side to side. This swivel is composed of a sleeve, I, fixed on bar B, and having a groove or recess in which the strap E is received and turns. To this strap the lever F is pivoted at p. Said lever is also provided with a slot, L, so that when it is moved back and forth to throw the switch it can slide up anddown on a pin, N, projecting from the quadrant G, and not tend to raise and bind the rod B. This slot might with the same effectbe placed near the lower end of lever F, where it is pivoted to strap E.

When the lever F is thrown for the middle or main line, as in Fig. 1, and then dropped on the ground on either side of tie K, the strap E, to which it is attached, falls into one of the notches D and holds the rail in the desired position. The operation for the other positions is similar and too obvious to need description.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The described combined three-throw hinged railway switchstand, the quadrant and lever of which are hinged to the base, so that after use in an upright position they can be dropped upon the. ground on either side of the tie on which they are supported, so as to be out of the way of passing trains or persons, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the plate H, hinges O, hollow pintles C G, hinged quadrant G, lever F, swivel O, strap E, racks D, and rod B, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a railway switch-stand, the combination of the switching lever with a hinged quadrant capable of being folded down upon the ground on either side, so that the lever and are will be out of the way, as described. 4. In a railway switch-stand, the locking device consisting of the combination of the rod -B, sleeve P, strap E, and racks D, in the manner and for the purpose stated.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own invention weafiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

Joann. ennnnwoon. WILLIAM H. oownLL.

Witnesses:

M. H. AMBROSE, Jnssn B. BEoTIN. 

